BREAKING: Footage shows Conservative MP Mark Field forcibly removing a female protester from last night's Mansion House dinner
Conservative MP Mark Field has today been suspended from his position as a Minister in the Foreign Office, after footage emerged of him grabbing a female climate change protestor at last night's Mansion House speech by the Chancellor.
Field has said he regrets the incident, in which he pushed a protestor walking past his chair against a marble pillar, and held her by the neck as he marched her away from the Chancellor's speaking area. He insisted he was worried the protestor may have been armed.
He referred himself for investigation at the Cabinet Office this morning, and Downing Street announced shortly afterwards that he would be suspended from Ministerial duties while an investigation into his conduct takes place.
"The prime minister has seen the footage and she found it very concerning," a Downing Street spokeswoman said. "The police have said they are looking into reports over this matter and Mark Field has also referred himself to both the Cabinet Office and the Conservative Party. He will be suspended as a minister while investigations take place."
The police and Conservative Party are also investigating the incident. Labour has called for his resignation.
Field is the MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, and Minister for Asia and the Pacific in the Foreign Office.
WATCH: Conservative MP Mark Field shoves a protestor against a pillar then grabs her by her neck and shoves her out of the Mansion House dinner after climate change protestors interrupted the banquet. pic.twitter.com/DFwZYxROfF
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) June 20, 2019
In a statement released before his suspension, Field said: "I deeply regret this episode and unreservedly apologise to the lady concerned for grabbing her but in the current climate I felt I needed to act decisively to close down the threat to the safety of those present."
The incident has sparked a fierce debate among Conservative party MPs over the appropriateness of his actions. MPs including Energy and Clean Growth Minister Claire Perry insisted Field was right to act as he did, but other senior Tories including Conservative party chairman Brandon Lewis expressed discomfort with the level of force Field used.
Field intervened last night during a protest by Greenpeace activists, who disrupted last night's black tie event to demand the financial sector take more urgent action to address the climate threat.
Dressed in suits and red dresses with sashes reading 'Climate Emergency', the activists attempted to drown out the Chancellor with a rival speech pointing out the failings of the current financial system.
"This is a climate emergency," the speech read. "We have to change something. Business as usual is no longer an option. The market, the City and global industries need to be steered and directed. It's time to step forward."
The incident is also likely to prompt the government and carbon intensive businesses to review their security procedures and practices as environmental protests become more widespread and disruptive, even as they remain peaceful.